Karla's Korner

Celebrating "Give Thanks" with:

**WITHIN THE CONTINENTAL US ONLY**
Click here to visit my online webstore!
 

30 Days of Thanksgiving... Day 9... Color

I once took an art class where the instructor invited his students outdoors.
It was a gray and dreary day... as it can often be in the great northwest!
He asked us to look up at the clouds and tell him what colors we saw.
The response was almost a unanimous "GRAY"... duh!
He asked us to look again and let our eyes linger longer.
A more intentional survey of the heavens revealed a rainbow array
of subtle pinks, purples, blues and a touch of green hidden...
waiting to be noticed... in the clouds above!

The heavens declare the glory of the Lord
but so often we do not see His beauty because we're not looking for it.

Lord... You are a colorful God!
Open our eyes to see... and be thankful for...
the colors of the rainbow You've so graciously surrounded us with.
It is amazing how many hues of green there are in the trees and
bushes that line the streets...
the shades of brown, red, gold and orange that decorate the fall landscape...
and the bright colors of the food we eat...
lime green, lemon yellow, tangerine orange and cherry red!
Yes Lord... the heavens and the earth colorfully declare Your glory!
Amen

30 Days of Thanksgiving... Day 8... Healing

Pastor Russ explained this morning that our heart is who we are.
And to some degree we are all broken. We all have wounded hearts.
Hearts that have been injured by abuse... lies... betrayal... divorce.
The list goes on.
But Jesus came to heal broken hearts... and broken people.

Some people seem to be more broken than others.
Maybe the abuse was more painful. The vessel more fragile.
The wound deeper.
But the lie is always the same... you are unloved and unlovable.

I have believed that lie. Lived that lie.
Allowed that lie to imprison my heart and almost destroy my life.

And then I met Jesus.
And the truth of His love began to replace the lie and my healing began.
You see, the truth is, I am... and you are... loved and lovable.
God loves us unconditionally and forever.
He loves us so much that He sent Jesus to rescue us... and He died doing it.
But we have to believe it. We have to receive it. We have to live it.
And we have to allow His love to set us free and restore our lives.



Healing is a journey but it's worth every step.
Today, with tears in my eyes, I give thanks to God
for sending Jesus to this earth to heal broken hearts...
mine... and yours.

Thank You Lord! Amen.

30 Days of Thanksgiving... Day 7... Light

I was at my desk, working on my computer this afternoon,
when I looked up to see this incredible display of light
dancing in the treetops outside my office window!
My heart sang to the same melody as I thanked God for this blessing.
I was so aware that a moment earlier or later... I would have missed it.

I am so thankful for light and how it displays the glory of the Lord
whether it's brilliant sunlight, peaceful moonlight or twinkling stars!

I am not only thankful for the lights in the sky
but also for the lights that help make my house a home...
electric lights, flickering candles and logs burning in the fireplace.

But most of all... I am thankful that God is Light
and that He sent Jesus to be the Light of this world
and the Light of my life... and yours!

The Lord is my Light and my Salvation;
whom shall I fear?
Psalm 27:1

I am not the same person I used to be because of His Light.
When God shines His Light... the Light of His Word and His love...
into our hearts, darkness has to leave. Lies give way to truth.
Hate gives in to love. Worry yields to faith.
Death surrenders to Life. And we are changed forever.

And just as the sunlight brilliantly broke through the storm clouds today...
and danced in the treetops... so He does in our hearts.

Today Lord, I pray for the Light of Your Word to continue to be my guide
and the Light of Your Love to shine brighter than ever
in me and through me for your glory. Amen.

30 Days of Thanksgiving... Day 6... Peace

Before I met Jesus I was a worrier.
I worried about everything.
And if there wasn't something real to worry about,
I'd make something up.
You do that too. I know you do. We all do.
God calls it "vain imaginations"... worrying about things
that haven't happened yet or may never happen.

And then I read Philippians 4:6...
Do not be anxious for anything, but in everything,
by prayer and petition, with THANKSGIVING,
present your requests to God.
And the PEACE of GOD,
which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts
and your minds in Christ Jesus.

God doesn't want us to worry... He wants to give us peace.
But I can pray and walk away and still not have peace.
So can you.
But I have learned, through this verse,
that the key to receiving and walking in God's peace...
the part we tend to read right over.. is with THANKSGIVING!



God's peace can be ours as we thank Him for who He is
to us, for us, in us, and through us...
for His presence, His promises, His power, and His plans...
because, when we do... our focus shifts from our problems...
real or imagined... and back to our God who is able to take
care of whatever concerns us today, tomorrow and always!

Today I thank You God for Your peace that passes all understanding
as we trust in You! We love You Lord! Amen.

30 Days of Thanksgiving... Day 5... Water

There are so many things I am thankful for, it's hard to choose.
So I was asking God to bring something to mind He wanted me to share.
I stepped into the shower! Ahhhhh... can you see my smile?

I've shared my story before... but maybe you haven't heard it.
Michael, Michelle and I lived in Alaska for four years.
Three of those without running water! Oh... I think I heard you gasp!!

It's hard to imagine what it would be like to live without running water and
indoor plumbing, isn't it? We hauled the water we needed for cooking
and cleaning in five-gallon cans and heated it on the stove.
Our outhouse was about a thirty-foot walk from the back door, which seemed
like a mile at thirty degrees below zero! And the local store was the place
to go for weekly showers, laundry, and catching up on local news.

I can still remember moving into our first house after coming back
to the states. I was SO excited!  Not only did water come out of the faucet,
but the water was hot! I smile now just thinking about it!

For us, moving to Alaska had been a lifestyle choice.
For many others in this world however, living without running water,
is not a choice at all. In fact, a great percentage of people on this planet
drink and bathe and wash their clothes in filthy, contaminated water.

Interesting how giving thanks can humble your heart at the same time.
It's one of God's ways of watering us... of allowing His Spirit
to move in us and through us... making our hearts more compassionate...
and our souls more like well-watered gardens for Him
and for the blessing of others.

Heavenly Father... forgive us for taking our creature comforts so for granted.
Thank You Lord for clean water... and indoor plumbing! Stir our hearts
today to pray for and find ways to help those who are without clean
water for it is vital to life. And MOST OF ALL Father,
we thank You for the living water that flows in us and out of us
through faith in Your Son Jesus Christ. Amen.

30 Days of Thanksgiving... Day 4... The Phone

Today... I am thankful for my phone and how God uses it as a tool of blessing!

Okay... this may not seem like something to stop and give thanks for
but just think about...

How many prayers have been spoken over the phone

How many lives have been saved or fires put out by calling 911

How many times you've encouraged someone
or you've been encouraged by a phone call

How much time and money you've saved
by letting your fingers do the walking

How many times you've been able to hug someone you love
who lives far away via the phone

How many appointments you've made or information
you've received over the phone

Yes... I know there are a lot more important things to be thankful for...
but today... I am thankful for my phone and all the people
God uses to make a phone call possible!

And I'd love to be able to pick up the phone and call every one of you
who are joining in this season of Giving Thanks with your comments
and blog posts! You ladies are overflowing with thanksgiving!!

**Check out the growing list of thankful bloggers listed on Day 2!**
Want to join in the blessing... you can start today!




Heavenly Father... today I want to thank You for the phone
and how You've used it for ministry and blessing throughout the world.
I know that every blessing You give to us can
be used or abused and the same is true of the phone so I ask
You to teach us how to use it wisely and teach our children
to do the same. Be blessed Lord. Amen.

 

Thanksgiving Giving Back!

Thanksgiving is expressed not only in words but in deeds.
So be encourage today to express your gratitude
to someone in a very real and tangible way?

I've been wanting to use my talents to promote
a few charities over the years and now I am!

When I painted this house blessing,
I did it for those of us who do have homes,
in order to bless those who don't!



I am honored to announce that from now until December 1st, 100%
of the profit from every House Blessing Print you purchase will go directly to:


OpenHouse Ministries- Vancouver, WA
Their program focuses on equipping homeless families...
not just giving them overnight shelter... but also giving them life skills
and tools to help them regain healthy, independent lives.



This print is designed to be personalized with your last name
hand-lettered above the front door
or you could choose to have it personalized for a friend or family member
as a housewarming, wedding, or Christmas gift...



a gift that keeps on giving!

Love you guys!!
xoxoxo
Karla

30 Days of Thanksgiving... Day 3

A few days ago I met a woman who has been homeless more than once.
She was giving thanks to the folks who helped her during those difficult days.
It was humbling to be reminded "but by the grace of God go I."

Today I want to say how thankful I am to have a house...
a roof over my head and a safe place to lay my head at night.



I have lived in apartments, tiny cabins, a single wide trailer and even
a camper made for the back of a pick up and I've been thankful
for each one! And even though we have it up for sale,
I am still grateful for the sweet time God has allowed us to enjoy
this particular country home nestled in it's a beautiful, peaceful setting.

My heart cries for women who have lost their homes.
So much of our identity is wrapped up in being a keeper of our home...
that's who God made us to be.
A homeless woman's sense of loss must be so much greater than a man's.

So I am also thankful for people who help people...
people like the woman I met a few days ago who needed someone to care.

I want to be more of a part of that kind of caring and helping.
God has shown me a way... so please check out my next post to see how.

Lord God... thank you so much for giving me a roof over my head and
all the other creature comforts I take so for granted. Father, enlarge
my heart for those who are hurting... especially for those women who
have lost their homes for whatever reason. Show me ways to help make
a differenceusing the gifts and talents and finances You've given me
so that others may know You care through me. Amen

30 Days of Thanksgiving... Day 2... Holding Hands!

Today I'm thanking God for you and your desire to join hands and hearts
with me and other sisters in Christ...
counting our blessings and giving thanks to God!
I know the Lord is smiling as we celebrate this month with gratitude!

I also want to thank God today for being a part of the body of Christ
both in our local church and the body at large.
Michael and I were away from home Sunday and visited a church
where we were welcomed with open arms. It is a blessing to have family...
sisters and brothers in Christ... wherever we go!

Have you thanked God lately for your spiritual family?
It is good to give thanks to the Lord!

Just look below to see who you're holding hands with so far...
please take time to visit some of them and hear
how God has blessed them... let us encourage one another.

remotetreechanger.blogspot.com

homespunsimplicity.blogspot.com

simplyheathersblog.blogspot.com

luckebabe-reflections.blogspot.com

dailyreminders4me.blogspot.com

composition-life.blogspot.com

shortybearsplace.blogspot.com

patchworkangel.blogspot.com

devildogfamily.blogspot.com

crochetbythesea.blogspot.com

bgladpapercrafts.blogspot.com

elliemaescottage.blogspot.com

composition-life.blogspot.com

creativecountrymom.blogspot.com

christianunschool-more.blogspot.com

faith-byfaith.blogspot.com

noteworthyforgod.blogspot.com

encouragementfrommyheart.blogspot.com

sherrie-plummer.blogspot.com

charliejuliefoggfamily.blogspot.com

liftingmyeyes.wordpress.com

inlightofthetruth.blogspot.com

trudystreasures-2cats.blogspot.com

blissfulanddomestic.blogspot.com

thewashingtonwalkers.blogspot.com

jenssimplepleasures.blogspot.com

sewblessedwith3.blogspot.com

If you want to join this 30 Days of Thanksgiving at any time

just leave a comment on that days post and if you have a blog,
Link to my blog and I'll gladly add a link back to yours.
And if I missed you please let me know!

xoxoxo
Karla

30 Days of Thanksgiving... Day 1

I searched for years.
I knew there had to be a God but every god I met missed the mark.
I knew that when I met Him... the One True God... I would know.
And I did.

In the fall of 1980 I was invited to a neighborhood Bible study
where I was introduced to the Lord God Almighty.
There... I discovered the Only True God who is all powerful, all wise,
all knowing, all loving, all caring, always present... and I fell in love!

All is such a BIG word and this God... He was and is ALL! 
He was all I needed then... He is all I need for today...
and He is all I'll ever need in the days to come.

We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty,
the One who is and who was and who is to come,
because You have taken Your great power and reigned.
Revelation 11:17

Heavenly Father,
Today I give You thanks for that Bible study that introduced me to Jesus.
For Stonecroft Ministries for writing and publishing it and
for Marge Jessup who took the time to host it in her home.
Above all, I am thankful for You God. You are the Lord God Almighty.
I love knowing that You do know everything, You are everywhere,
and You do love everyone...
including me... and including all my precious sisters in Christ
who are reading this!
Amen.

Together Lord... we GIVE THANKS!!

Today... will you give thanks for the person
or people who introduced you to Jesus?
Will you take a moment to praise Him for being ALL you need...
yesterday, today and forever?

xoxoxo
Karla

Join Me for 30 Days of Thanksgiving!

I tried to get a post done yesterday for Thanksgiving Thursday
but I was busy making teenage mutant ninja turtle costumes
for my granddaughter and her friend! Thankful for the time with them!

You know... I love Thanksgiving Thursday but we all know that
giving thanks is not reserved for one special day of the week.

And even though we have assigned it one special day of the year
and called it a holiday, the truth is everyday can be a holiday...
a time of celebrating and being thankful for who God is
and who He is to us, for us, in us, and through us!

So to kick off the holiday season, I have decided to blog
30 Days of Thanksgiving... one post of gratitude...
every day of November. Would you like to join me?

It can be A LITTLE like... "Today I am thankful for love!"
included in a comment on my daily post.. or on your own blog post.
or you can write A LOT... it's up to you.
If you can't do 30 consecutive posts... no worries... one day at a time!

I just thought it would be fun... and bring a smile to God's face...
for His girls to join hearts for 30 days to give Him praise!!

SO...if you'd like to participate here's two ways to do it:
If you're a blogger:
1) Post one thing you're thankful for every day of November.
2) Link back to my blog
3) Leave me a comment with the link to your blog
and I'll link back to you in a special Give Thanks post!!
**See Day 2... Holding Hands for all who are Giving Thanks together!
(You can pull the 30 Days banner above to use in your blog if you like!)

If you're not a blogger:
simply leave a comment with what you're thankful
for at the bottom of my post every day!
(You can even use my post as a prompt for your comment!)

Dear Lord... thank You for all You are and all You have done for me
and for my precious Sisters in Christ... the list is endless.
Father... forgive us for taking so much of our lives for granted.
I pray you will be honored and glorified
through our thanksgiving... and that it will continue long after
the holiday season is over! In Christ... Amen.

I look forward to being THANKFUL together!!
xoxoxo
Karla

Wonderful Woman of Influence

I almost didn't go. I had come home from church, changed clothes and snuggled up for a cozy restful afternoon. Then the reminder popped up from my computer calendar: Woman of Influence Meeting 1:00! Groan. Moan. Whine. Whimper. I didn't want to uncozy myself and travel all the way back into town.

Have you ever really not wanted to do something or go somewhere but you finally gave in to the nudgings (or sometimes downright shoving) of the Holy Spirit and then so glad you did? Well, that was me yesterday. So glad.

I don't think I heard anything I hadn't heard before about women influencing women. I know I'm a woman of influence. I know you are too. It's not a question of "if" but "what kind" and "how much." Sometimes we can simply forget just how much of a difference we can make in another woman's life when we're intentional about it... and how many opportunities to show God's love slip through the cracks because we're not. I can forget. I can get lazy. Side-tracked. Self focused. Fearful. I needed that reminder.

I want to be a better lover... lover of God and lover of souls. I want to love other women more than I'm afraid of them. I want to love them... love you... like God loves you... allowing His love to move in me and through me. Only His love can empower us to be Mighty Women of Influence. Sometimes we just need a reminder to say...

Here I am Lord, send me.
Isaiah 6:8

Heavenly Father... thank You for loving me and filling my heart with so much love that there's plenty to give away.  Show me who it is in my life who is lonely or hurting or needy for You.  Fill me, send me, use me...  so that the women in my life would see You through me. For Your glory... amen.

The Winners are...

Thank you all for your great suggestions! It was so fun to see your choices!
It was still hard to narrow it down to just 3 so I went by the number of votes
per image and still ended up choosing 4 instead of 3!

So here are the winning art prints that will be added to my Etsy shop soon:

 
Autumn Give Thanks 7.5x7.5

Autumn Tea 8x10

Cupcakes 8x10

Core Values 6x8

And the WINNER of the FREE ART PRINT is...

Deborah of debsberrys


Deborah... please choose one art print from the above four winners...
email me with your choice and your mailing address and
your winner print will be on its way to you in just a few days!

Thank you all SOOOOO much for participating and for your sweet comments. 
Please know that I read, appreciate, and SAVOR each one.
You make my heart smile!

xoxoxo
Karla

I DID IT... 13.1 Miles!!

I can hardly believe I did it... but I did! I walked the Girlfriends Half-Marathon
last Saturday and lived to talk about it!! 4 hours 4 minutes!

These were some of the girls from my church that partipated.
I'm the oldie but goodie in the center and I walked with my granddaughter
Alexis to my right (3rd from left in photo) and my sis-in-law/love Cindy
who is 2nd from the left in the photo. The other girls were all runners!

I know I would not and could not have finished without the love
and encouragement of Alexis, Cindy and my darling daughter
who, sad to say, could not run that day because she was sick.

What did I learn?
1. This old body is capable of doing more than I thought it could!
(I am fearfully and wonderfully made! Psalm 139:14)

2. We need each other... to be cheerleaders for one another!
(Encourage one another daily Hebrews 3:13)

3. It would have been much less painful if I had trained for it!
(The fruit of the Spirit is self-discipline Galatians 5:22)

4. It feels good to run for a cause bigger than yourself!
(Look not only to your own interests , but also to the interests of others Phil 2;4)
Susan G. Komen for the Cure®

Thank You Lord for giving me the strength and endurance to walk this race! There are more parallels between running/walking a race and our walk with You than I have time to talk about today but the greatest thing You showed me from the Half-Marathon was how much we need Girlfriends... how much we need each other to cheer us on in our faith in You and our faith in who You created us to be. It made me think of all the women in the world who have quit running the race with You because they lacked cheerleaders. Lord Jesus, teach us to be better encouragers... to think not only about ourselves but about those who need a good word today! Fill us with Your overflowing love. Amen.

PS... Extra bonus... I got to check it off my 58 Things List... sweet!

So Many Choices... For a Fun Giveaway!

I need your help!!
I want to add several more art prints to my Etsy Shop
over the next few weeks
but I have so many to choose from!

I just added this one yesterday titled "The Journey".

I love this print because life is an adventure...
and when you're on the journey with God all roads point to a future of hope,
peace and joy in Him no matter what our circumstances are today!

So will you help me choose which art prints to add to Etsy next?
If you own any of my books and see an image that you would like to see
hanging on your wall or maybe one you'd like to give as a gift...
now is the time to tell me and WIN a print for yourself.

Just take a moment to leave a comment either here on this blogpost
or on Facebook and let me know your choice...
you can comment as many times as you like but only
ONE CHOICE PER COMMENT PLEASE.

Next Friday, I'll choose 3 prints from the comments to add to the store
AND ONE HAPPY WINNER to receive a FREE PRINT!!

I'll be looking forward to seeing your choices!
Lord bless you!

xoxoxo
Karla

God Bless This Home...

A house is a physical building, walls that shelter, protect and sometimes
even divide. But a HOME is the invisible structure within...
warm & radiant love that embraces each member of the family
and reaches out to draw in friends, family and even strangers.
(from Love In Every Room)

My newest painting "Bless This Home" celebrates that love with a blessing!

Notice the blank banner above the door?
It's waiting for me to personalize it for you...
hand-lettered with your family name!

Or just think what a great housewarming or wedding gift this would be!

That was my inspiration... because I'm always looking for that
special one-of-a-kind gift to give as a blessing... and now I have one!

You can check it out in my new Etsy store if you like!!

May God be gracious to us and bless us
and make His face shine upon us.
Psalm 67:1

Heavenly Father, we do ask Your grace and blessing on our homes today...
that You would fill every room of our hearts and homes with Your love
and peace and joy so much so that those who enter in would sense
the sweetness of Your presence here... for Your glory Jesus. Amen

What I'm Reading...

Just had to tell you that I'm off to a good start on my "58 Things" List...
I've already begun on #6 with this little gem...

Have you read any of Robin's books?
I know this amazing woman personally and LOVE her
and so far... I LOVE this book!!
I know... it's been around for a LONG time... but this way I don't have
to wait for the next one in the series to come out... it's waiting for me!!
And just in case you haven't read it,
I've put a link on my sidebar so you can enjoy it with me.


Oh yes... I was gifted Max's book by my publisher so it will be next.

We all have fears so I'm sure I'll be encouraged by Max's insights
and scriptural exhortations.


And I've been savoring moments of inspiration in Blogging for Bliss.

This book is delightfully inspiring and just plain pretty!

So... have you read the SisterChicks series?
Do you think you'll read Fearless?
Have you been inspired by Blogging for Bliss?

I am so thankful that God has given us the ability to read
and learn and grow! And I love that He has given us each other
to learn from and be inspired by!

Above all may we always be learning more about and
growing in our love for Christ and for each other!
Be blessed my freinds...
xoxoxo
Karla